Pakistan's tail wags to frustrate England after Razaullah's heroics in final test

BIRMINGHAM, Sept 11 : Pakistan were bowled out for 449 on day three of the final test on Friday, setting England a target of 130 to win after Razaullah provided the fireworks late in the day.

Razaullah smashed 81 at number nine on his test debut after Shan Masood and Babar Azam rescued the beleaguered tourists as Pakistan, who are attempting to avoid a 3-0 whitewash, responded emphatically following England's first-innings total of 453.

Any hopes England harboured of wrapping up the test quickly were dashed as Masood spearheaded Pakistan's resistance with a defiant knock of 95, falling agonisingly short of what would have been his first century on the tour.

Masood and Azan Awais, who came together in the first over when the tourists were 0-2, had earlier rescued Pakistan from the worst possible start.

They patiently constructed a 125-run partnership - their first century stand of the series in what has been a difficult tour for the Asian side.

Awais departed for 59 when he was caught behind off the bowling of Dan Lawrence after skipper Root reviewed the original decision of not out, with the Snickometer registering a faint spike as the ball passed the bat.

Babar then joined Masood and the pair brought up another rare fifty-run stand for Pakistan in the series.

MASOOD FALLS JUST SHORT OF CENTURY

But Masood fell when Gus Atkinson produced a thick edge that flew to gully where Lawrence dived low to his right to take an outstanding one-handed catch.

Masood looked on in disbelief and stayed put until the third umpire confirmed Lawrence did not ground the ball, before the 36-year-old trudged back to the pavilion as the Edgbaston crowd rose to their feet to give him a standing ovation.

Babar was also going strong but fell for 76 when he